Fatal heroin overdoses in SouthCoast 'staggering'

Wednesday

Feb 26, 2014 at 12:25 AMFeb 26, 2014 at 8:13 AM

A plentiful supply of potent heroin is one of the factors behind a rash of fatal overdoses that since Nov. 1 has killed 54 people in Bristol and Plymouth counties and at least 185 statewide, state police say.

CURT BROWN

A plentiful supply of potent heroin is one of the factors behind a rash of fatal overdoses that since Nov. 1 has killed 54 people in Bristol and Plymouth counties and at least 185 statewide, state police say.

Those statistics, compiled by the homicide units in each of the county district attorney's offices, were reported Tuesday. They do not include fatal overdoses in the state's three largest cities — Boston, Springfield and Worcester — which handle their own death investigations, according to David Procopio, a state police spokesman.

Among the counties, Bristol County has the highest number of fatal heroin overdoses with 34. There were 20 in Plymouth County, according to the state police release.

Procopio cited several reasons for the spike: "a very potent strain of heroin" flooding the streets; suppliers cutting the heroin with a synthetic substance to increase the drug's toxicity; users taking heroin with other drugs; a ready available supply of heroin; and the ease of obtaining heroin in comparison to other opiates or prescription narcotics.

"We firmly believe that it is a problem that cannot be solved solely by arrests, although street enforcement is vital," he said. "Treatment and public education components are equally essential."

There are large concentrations of fatal heroin overdose deaths in southeastern Massachusetts, Merrimack Valley and western Massachusetts, he said.

The state police report is consistent with what local community health and law enforcement officials said they are seeing everyday on SouthCoast streets.

They said they began noticing the uptick around the end of November and it has continued right into this month.

"It's real. The thing is real. The heroin on the streets is obviously being tainted with some substance," said Carl Alves, director of Positive Action Against Chemical Addiction Inc., of New Bedford.

"This is our area. It's really a law enforcement issue because the dealers are killing people," he said.

Connie Rocha-Mimuso, director of HIV Services and Nalaxone Program at Seven Hills Behavioral Health, said she has noticed an increase since November in fatal and non-fatal overdoses in New Bedford, Fall River and Taunton.

"The three cities have seen a tremendous increase," she said, saying that's reflected in more patients being admitted to local hospitals and users seeking treatment because of their high risk.

Rev. David Lima, executive minister of the Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford, said the stronger heroin actually acts as lure to users because of its potency and its promises of a greater high, instead of scaring them away due to the health risks.

SouthCoast police chiefs said they are well aware of the problem. While exact numbers were not available, New Bedford Chief David Provencher said the city has seen an increase in both fatal and non-fatal overdoses the last few months.

Freetown Chief Carlton Abbott said since January there have been three non-fatal overdoses in that town — one for heroin, the others for Klonopin and oxycodone.

"These statistics are staggering," he said of the statewide numbers.

Dartmouth Police Chief Timothy M. Lee said there have been no recent reported overdoses there, but police are aware of the severity of the situation.

Heroin is cheap and readily available and users do not realize how dangerous it is, Lee said.